2017 has been a roller coaster of a year, for many humans around the world and for me, personally. One such change that has drastically allowed me to view life differently (for the better), is to have no expectations. This practice has brought me many wonders and permitted me to appreciate smaller less noticeable experiences and relationships. Therefore, I decided to take my perspective and apply it to a country, and what an unexpected enchanting verdant gem I stumbled upon. I knew little of Ecuador (I must admit I failed to do my research prior), I simply landed and received everything with naivety and a baby like curiosity. I flew in when it was nighttime and all I saw of Quito were tremendous patches of black, dotted with elongated windy yellowish streetlights. All I could think of was… where is Quito? And why is everything so spread out?

Unlike most cities, Quito isn’t one single congregated city, but rather spread out over, around, and behind the Andes. The uniqueness of its geography grants astonishing sights, especially the mountains and volcanos. From its reserved and tender people to its roaring diversity, from blistering cold mountaintops to its rich jungle and calming beaches, it is safe to say Ecuador was an extremely pleasant surprise.

Things I noticed/enjoyed: 

• Babies, many many babies waddling while sticking their little tongues out
  • Well, that only happened once, and he was sitting, but it made me smile and do a weird cutesie squeal 
• Oswaldo Guayasamín 
• Its abundance of schools and hospitals
• Beautiful long shiny hair, often braided with thick colorful threads of wool 
• Alpaca everything and llamas spitting 
• Greenery everywhere, most noticeably environmentally loving country I’ve been to
  • Disclaimer: That I’ve been to, this comment has absolutely no scientific research backing it up
• The tenacious women, with their hardworking character and simultaneously coated with a motherly nature 
• My very first exposure to no shame public breastfeeding! With NO stigma!!!
• I highly recommend spending many evenings in Quito’s historical streets, volcanos are worth breaking your sweat and heaving for gulps of oxygen (I promise), and many of its towns and cities have an incredible charm that will surely extend anyone’s stay
• I really dislike the cold, but for all the reasons mentioned, Ecuador’s mountain climate didn’t bother me the slightest